Related

NEW DELHI: Directly attacking the Prime Minister, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday blamed Manmohan Singh for the drastic fall in rupee and the current economic downturn.

Addressing a rally in Ambikapur, Modi drew a parallel between Manmohan Singh and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh. "Both Manmohan Singh and Raman Singh are doctors. While Raman Singh has worked for Chhattisgarh's progress, Manmohan Singh has sent the rupee to the hospital," he mocked. "Rupee is fighting for its life because of the doctor in Delhi," Modi hit out.

Raising the issue of Coalgate, Modi said that not just coal files, but the entire government is missing. "There was a debate on coal files in Parliament, SC is also asking. Parliament is worried but people asking where is the Government," he said. "Government is lost, money is lost from the coffers, their honour is lost," Modi said.

Modi also took a dig at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for his comment on poverty being a state of mind. "The person on whom the Congress is banking on said poverty is a state of mind," he said. "To say that poverty is a state of mind is making a mockery of the poor in the country," Modi added.

"Our dream is to create employment for the youth in the country," Modi said. "Congress is arrogant, it feels no need to be accountable and answerable to this nation," he said. "Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh are prime examples of how BJP can create great states, as opposed to Congress which has created Telangana amidst the entire dispute," Modi said.

Modi lauded Raman Singh for his developmental work in Chhattisgarh. "I applaud Dr Raman Singh for not depending on the central government for Chhattisgarh's development," he said.

The rally was a part of Raman Singh's state-wide "Vikas Yatra". Ambikapur is located in the state's Sarguja District, and is about 250 kilometres from state capital Raipur.

Earlier this week, Modi said he does not dream of occupying the top post (of Prime Minister) and would respect the people's mandate for serving the state till 2017.

"I never see such dreams (of becoming PM), nor am I going to see such dreams. People of Gujarat have given me the mandate to serve them till 2017 and I have to do this with full strength," Modi said earlier this week, in remarks that could be seen as subtle expression of his displeasure over the continued delay in formally annointing him BJP's prime ministerial nominee.